Author
Topic: "APSKIP" --TAR Detective remembered (Read 11072 times)

Our RFF family lost a great friend this week. I am so very saddened to say that Apskip died suddenly on Monday June 10.

Apskip joined RFF Dec 21, 2006. He was a stickler for accuracy, a passionate traveler, and a true Amazing Race fan. He had a near encyclopedic memory of TAR facts. He quickly became known for his geographical expertise and his "amazing" gift for tracking even the most complicated flight data for TAR detecting. He could always be relied on to drop everything to help us in our searches for the best possible TAR routes and transportation. Many a location was discovered because of his gift for spotting a possible connection between legs. He made an enormous contribution at RFF and his passing will leave a great hole here.

Who was the man behind the "Apskip"? Apskip was in real life, Arthur E. Perkins Jr. He graduated from MIT with a BS in Economics, and then from the MIT Sloan School of Management with an MS in Management. He had a long career in Management and had experience in both the restaurant business and the travel industry.

He was a well known Reality TV writer and the author of several books. His best known were the 2 Amazing Race books:"Circumnavigating the Globe: Amazing Race 10 to 14 and Amazing Race Asia 1 to 3" and "Circumnavigating the Globe 2: Amazing Race 15-19, Amazing Race Asia 4, Amazing Race Australia: Amazing Race 15 - 19, Amazing Race Asia 4, Amazing Race Australia 1". All are available on Amazon.

He was also the author of "Chef Wars: Hell's Kitchen" and "Chef Wars: Top Chef, Top Chef Masters, Top Chef-Just Desserts". He did many recaps of Hell's Kitchen and Top Chef and The Apprentice.

He was a singer, very active in his church, and a proud husband and father. But to many of us here, he was just our own "Apskip" and his friendship and contributions to RFF will be greatly missed.

I know you all join me in extending our most heartfelt sympathy to his wife and children. Please feel free to share your memories here as well!

This was taken at Apskip's first TARcon:

Logged

RFF's Golden Rule:Have RESPECT for each other, regardless of opinion. This of course includes no flaming/insulting other users and/or their posts.

As Plaidmoon, I'm shocked and stunned. His contibutions were always (were, I can't believe I'm saying "were" and not "are") so valuable. His departure leave us with a big hole to fill, not only for the detective, but principally for the person. I've always thought of the RFF as a big family, and last monday we lost one of his members. So, RIP Mr. Arthur E. "Apskip" Perkins Jr.; your other family will miss you a lot.

Apskip, with his amazing memory and walking-encyclopedia personality, contributed a lot here in Reality Fan Forum. He was even friendly and hospitable enough to be a judge in my Amazing Race Design Game and he really did give his time for my game. I will continue to thank him for doing that.

I'm absolutely shocked and stunned. In my time here, he was always among the best contributors around here. His passing will leave a huge hole in RFF.

My deepest condolences go out to Apskip's family.

Rest in peace, Arthur.

Let me just second, or third, what Plaidmoon said. He contributed mightily to the sleuthing we do here, and he had his resources to bring to the table. Speaking for myself, and the schnauzers who have been with me since TAR began to air a dozen years ago, he will be missed, and our condolences to his family and friends both in real life and online.

Apskip was one of the first members I met here at RFF. He regularly took the time out to make a correction when anyone incorrectly stated a fact, and I feel like he remembered everything he had ever read or watched about The Amazing Race. Frequently he would PM me and inform me when I was making an error or when I had a poorly reasoned argument. I admit that I did not usually appreciate this correction, but in hindsight I realize that this was a demonstration of a sincere commitment to factual accuracy. And it was something I needed anyway, given the fact that when I first joined RFF I was rather immature.

I remember when I first read Circumnavigating the Globe. As I read, I recognized the writing style. Soon I concluded that the author could only be apskip! As a result, it is neat to have my intimations confirmed, and to learn more about the man behind the name. It makes me wonder who else joins us here in the relative anonymity of the Internet.

All in all, because of this we are reminded anew that everyone we meet online is a real person, and that it is important to treat everyone with respect.

May you rest in peace, and not miss TAR Detecting as much as everyone here will miss you!

Let us comfort his family and give back a little of the good times we got from him. For those who believe, let us pray for his family and may he rest in peace. It is absolutely a gigantic loss. From my lurking times, to my years here, he was always such a familiar regular around. May someone let his family know how well he was appreciated by delivering all these messages. He left a footprint the world over, as if he had always raced. There will always be someone in Mexico remembering him. All my love.

P.S. Apskip: If you can read this, please send us a heavenly signal on season #23's whereabouts. We already miss you and need you!